Crossed Vines

Dexter Vines

by Jennifer M. Contino

Dexter Vines is best known for his work on Wolverine for Marvel Comics. He worked a little for most of the major comic book publishers, prior to joining CrossGeneration Comics. He was eager to take a chance on this "new kid on the block." His lovely inks will grace the pages of Meridian for CrossGen. Dexter is a man of few words, but we hope you'll enjoy this interview about his new job with CrossGen Comics.

Sequential Tart: How did you discover comic books?

Dexter Vines: A friend introduced me to comics, but years before I had been doing my own comics.

ST: Which ones were your favorites?

DV: What else, X-Men.

ST: Is there any one comic book story that influenced you SO much that you just HAD to be a part of comics?

DV: No, it wasn't a story that did it, it was the work of Art Adams that made me want to do comics.

ST: When did you realize that you wanted to work in comics and was inking your first choice?

DV: It was my junior year in high school when I learned that people made a living doing this and said, "This is what I want to do." Inking was my first choice, but I want to pencil at some point.

ST: How did you prepare for a career as an inker?

DV: I went to cons and talked to pros, and found out what tools and techniques they used.

ST: What tools do you use when inking?

DV: I use a Scharff 3000 size #3, a full set of Kohinoor rapidographs, black india ink, and various templates and french curves.

ST: When did you first hear of CrossGen?

DV: My good friend and now co-worker Don Hillsman has known Mark Alessi for years. About a year ago he said he knew this guy who wanted to start a comic company. My response was, "Yeah, right."

ST: What did you think of the proposal for CrossGen?

DV: That it was to good to be true.

ST: What lured you to submit samples for this company?

DV: I was at San Diego Con last year, and went to the booth to say hi to Brando, he said he liked my inks over Leinil Yu on Wolverine, and would I be interested in coming to CrossGen.

ST: How did you feel when you were hired by CrossGen?

DV: Good.

ST: What is it like working with Joshua Middleton? Do your styles mesh well?

DV: New meat, I love it. At first I didn't think we would, but the styles did rather well.

ST: About how long does it take you to ink a page?

DV: On average, a day.

ST: Who or what is Meridian?

DV: Well, Meridian is the name of the floating city the story takes place in.

ST: What about Meridian and the other CrossGen titles will appeal to new and longtime comic fans?

DV: It's that classic good versus evil with great story and art. You gotta love that!

ST: What is the best part about working with the whole team together?

DV: That we are here working together.

ST: What is the worst thing about working with the whole team together?

DV: Here working together.

ST: How hard was it to go from working for a major big '3' company to the untested waters of the independent world?

DV: Not too hard. I had to take the chance.

ST: What is a typical work day like for you?

DV: Don't ask.

CrossGen

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